Sunday, January 12, 2014

Nationwide Testing Wraps At Daytona

The NASCAR Nationwide Series got its turn to test the high banks of Daytona
International Speedway this weekend in preparation for the season-opening
DRIVE4COPD 300 on Saturday, Feb. 22.Nationwide Series stars including Regan Smith, Ty Dillon, Chase Elliott,
James Buescher, Trevor Bayne and Ryan Blaney participated in the two-day
testing session that concluded Sunday.

With teams participating in both single-car runs as well as some drafting
sessions, Elliott and his father, , two-time Daytona 500 champion Bill Elliott,
topped the charts on Saturday. The younger Elliott, kicking off his rookie
campaign in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports, was fastest in
the No. 9 Chevrolet with a lap of 187.993 mph, followed by his father in the
No. 5 Chevrolet at 187.974.

Dylan Kwasniewski was fastest on Sunday for Turner Scott Motorsports in the
No. 31 Chevrolet, with a lap of 190.022 mph. Chase Elliott was once again
near the top of the speed charts, posting the second fastest lap at 189.950
mph.

Buescher, who left Turner Scott Motorsports to join RAB Racing and the No.
99 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season, fondly recalled
his victory in the 2012 Nationwide opener at Daytona. Buescher was 11th entering Turn 4 on the
final lap, when a multi-car accident broke out in front of him. He was able to
maneuver his way through the accident to bring home the victory.

“It was really big,” said Buescher. “At that point, I had never won a NASCAR
sanctioned event. I was relieved to finally win a race, and the fact that I won
one when everybody was crashing, there was a lot of doubters that said it was a
fluke, and the fact that we were able to go follow that up with four more wins
in the Truck Series that year and a championship I think solidified that win
that we had here in the Nationwide Series. It makes this place even more
special.”

Preseason Thunder will conclude on Monday and Tuesday with NASCAR Camping
World Truck Series testing. Fans can watch the testing at no cost from a
section of the Oldfield Grandstands.